19.26 percent polling by 9 AM in Himachal Panchayat polls despite rain

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Shimla/Dharamshala, May 30

The third and final phase of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayat Elections recorded a voter turnout of 19.26 percent by 9 AM on Saturday, despite rain and stormy weather affecting several parts of the state.

Polling commenced at 7 AM across 1,189 gram panchayats, with more than 15 lakh eligible voters exercising their democratic right. Election officials said the process remained peaceful, with no untoward incidents reported during the initial hours of voting.

Sirmaur district registered the highest turnout at 23.60 percent, while Lahaul and Spiti recorded the lowest at 16.23 percent.

In Dharamshala’s Pasu Panchayat, voters braved rainfall to cast their ballots. Voting for three wards is being conducted at the Government Primary School in Pasu, while polling for two other wards is taking place at the Government Primary School in Nichla Pasu. Residents continued arriving at polling stations despite adverse weather conditions.

The elections are being held through ballot papers rather than party symbols, with voting scheduled to continue until 3 PM. State Election Department officials said results for gram panchayats, pradhans and up-pradhans will be declared on Saturday, while results for panchayat samiti and zila parishad members will be announced on May 31.

A total of 10,854 office-bearers have already been elected unopposed. Across the three phases, approximately 50.89 lakh voters are expected to elect 31,182 representatives to various local self-government bodies.

The Meteorological Center in Shimla has forecast a wet spell across Himachal Pradesh until June 4, but the weather has so far failed to dampen voter enthusiasm in the concluding phase of the rural polls.